175 Water Street Manhattan

In January 1982 word buzzed around the archaeological field that the excavations at 175 Water Street in Manhattan were producing remarkable finds. The wharfing, antiquated water-transport system, industrial refuse middens, and surprisingly, the intact hull of an eighteenth century merchant ship represented more archaeological information about eighteenth century New York than anyone could have imagined. The results were originally presented as a report not yet published. Over the years, new evidence has surfaced and conclusions drawn in the spring of 1983 have been changed or modified. The publication of this twenty-five year old manuscript makes available important comparative data and gives archaeologists and historians a precise glimpse of 18th century maritime trade.